Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

"What's up with you, Maurice?" Effie asked cautiously.

Maurice looked at her. "Effie, aren't you going to explain why you ditched us that night and snuck off without saying a word?"

Effie blinked in surprise. "I didn't sneak off! I texted you, remember? You were all passed out-dead to the world after drinking so much. Was I supposed to wake everyone up one by one?"

Maurice gave a dismissive snort. "I told you not to get so lovestruck, but you never listen."

"I'm not lovestruck," Effie retorted. "He explained everything, and I believe him." Maurice shook his head. "Men say whatever they want to get out of trouble. Don't trust a single word they say-not even the punctuation."

Effie couldn't help but laugh. "By that logic, should I not believe a word you say, either?"

Maurice was momentarily at a loss for words. He shot her a look. "Must you always have the last word?"

Effie grinned. "Alright, alright, don't be mad. I know you're just looking out for me. But I know exactly what kind of person Lyman is."

She wasn't a child anymore, not after everything she'd been through. If anything, she was more sensitive than anyone else to these things.

She knew Lyman-better than anyone.

"Fine. But if anything ever happens, don't bottle it up.

Effie smiled. “Now, hurry up

shook his head. "No way. That

front of me," he said, glancing pointedly at

halfway

was Maurice throwing shade

say anything, Suzan arrived with Mitchell and

a reservation for a

hostess checked the system, her expression changing slightly. "I'm sorry, Miss Bagnold. You're here an hour earlier than your reservation, and the room is still

you mean?" Suzan's tone sharpened. booked the restaurant

available for my

you give it to someone else—and

we're fully booked right now, so you'll need to wait a little

at Lionel and the others. They stayed silent, but Suzan caught

her, always making snide comments behind her back.

Yvette while everyone's attention was